7 Tips On the Best Foods To Eat During Ramadan

Abstaining from food and drink during the Holy month has its challenges but also has its rewards. The benefits of fasting are well documented from healthy weightloss to its rejuvenating effect on the digestive system. However, we still need to take the necessary precautions to avoid any health problems that may arise as a result of fasting. Here a 7 tips on the best foods to eat during the Holy Month.

#1. Avoid Processed Foods

These are usually filled with unhealthy oils, lots of sodium unnatural preservatives like high-fructose corn syrup, MSG etc. There are halal alternatives you can use instead so get familiar with your local halal store or enquire with your grocery store as to whether the product you are buying is fresh of processed.

#2. Avoid White Sugar, White Bread And White Rice

Examples of these include white sugar, white bread and white rice. These are heath sound bites that are bounced around the media but the real reason is that white flour is often stripped off the nutrition that should be in bread. Whole grain breads and organic brown rice are a lot better for your body.

#3. Hydrate Your Body

Avoid tea and coffee as these can by dehydrating. Watermelon is a great way to hydrate otherwise smoothies and natural juices with no added sugars will be just fine. Be careful of spices and herbs that leave you thirsty. Having a warm soup is also a good way to hydrate your body.

Dates are a good way of braking the fast and will give you a burst of natural sugars. Drinking lemon water also has a positive impact on the liver and provides vitamin C and hydrates muscles and this will reduce lethargic feelings.

#4. Avoid Fried and Sugary Foods

Consider baking foods that you would normally fry. Fried foods are harder to digest because they are heavy in oil especially if you brake your fast with them.

It is good to also avoid sugary foods to avoid any sugar crashes and consider sweeter fruits an alternative to sugary snacks and deserts.

#5. Watch Your Carbohydrate Intake

Rice, pasta, potatoes are all staples in the diet of a lot of cultures and some may wonder what is left to eat if you are told to stay away from these however, these are high in carbohydrates, and carbohydrates get converted into sugar and excess. sugar could potentially lead to problems like diabetes. So these should be kept at a minimum and paired with proteins for a more balanced

#6. Eat Dates

Dates are high in vitamin A, B6, potassium, iron, magnesium and natural sodium these a nutrients that are depleted when fasting and dates are good for constipation problems which is common during Ramadan because of the lifestyle change.

#7. Eat Raw Nuts

Raw nuts contain good fats which help release sugars more slowly making you feel less hungry and therefore less likely to binge.